Buffalo Bills News - December 13, 2001

Smith revives career with Patriots [8:58 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"I do have confidence in my line, knowing they're going to come off hard and hit their blocks, which allows me just to think about running in there hard."'

Free agents or first-round picks at the all-important position of QB [7:32 AM]Pro Football Weekly reports:
'Since 1986, the starting quarterbacks in the Super Bowl have been first-round picks 20 times. Nine other times they were drafted in the second and third round. With only a couple of exceptions, most prominently Brett Favre, the starting quarterback was still playing with the team that originally drafted him.'

The Way We Hear It [7:30 AM]Pro Football Weekly reports:
RJ and Cowart in free agency, TD on trading down, plus McKinnie, Butler & Cottrell rumors.

Pro Football Weekly's Spin On Dec 4th [7:28 AM]Pro Football Weekly reports:
Buffalo-Carolina meeting Sunday will impact draft
Buchsbaum: The Buffalo Bills' first pick in the draft next year will either be an offensive left tackle or a quarterback. The only quarterback Buffalo would consider with that first-round pick is Fresno State's David Carr.

The draft pecking order could be affected by next week's Buffalo-Carolina game. Both teams have one win going in, and the loser could actually end up being the winner.

Fred Smerlas - A Tribute to a Nose [7:21 AM]TBD reports:
'After losing the AFC Championship game to Cincinnati in 1989 and an AFC Divisional playoff game to Cleveland in 1990, head coach Marv Levy made it clear that he wanted to rebuild his team around younger players. Joe Devlin and Art Still had been already told there was no longer a place for them on the team. Fred Smerlas was put on the list of unprotected free agents, meaning any team could now bid for his contract.'

Departed Bills wouldn't have helped [5:44 AM]D and C reports:
'Of the 22 players who were jettisoned from the 53-man roster of Wade Phillips and John Butler's final Buffalo team, only six have gone on to play regularly for new teams. Seven are contributing little to their new teams, and nine are out of football.'

Rob might be back -- this year [5:44 AM]D and C reports:
'"He's probably got another couple of weeks of the bone healing, but we hope that he'll be able to get back into the practice situation within a couple of weeks and start to work on the field and be able to do some non-contact things," Williams said.'

Returning to familiar territory [5:42 AM]Boston Globe reports:
'''Sometimes you are ahead, you get further ahead, sometimes you are behind, and you catch up. That is what it is about. It is about where we finish, not where we are in the middle of December. Right now it is Buffalo, that is it. 9-5, that is all we can do anything about, that's where we want to be.'''

Final test for Brady a stretch [5:40 AM]Boston Herald reports:
'Now, with three games remaining and all of New England watching, Brady is set to face a whole new battery of tests and an entirely new level of expectation. It's guaranteed to be more intense than anything he's experienced yet.'

Sullivan returns to shore up front line [5:40 AM]Boston Herald reports:
'With Willie McGinest still on the shelf and depth on the defensive line at a premium, the Patriots turned to a familiar face yesterday, signing former Patriot and North Attleboro native Chris Sullivan.'

Belichick's worry: Bills due [5:36 AM]Worcester Telegram and Gazette reports:
'"Buffalo and New England have played tight, competitive games the last few years," Belichick said. "It doesn't matter if the quarterback was Bledsoe, Friesz, Brady, or Flutie or Johnson for them. It doesn't matter if the game was early in the season or late in the season. It doesn't matter if it was sunny or snowing. They've been tight, physical games, and we better be ready for a tight, physical game on Sunday."'

Brady keeps head in game [5:35 AM]Springfield Union News reports:
'Brady said the physical conditioning aspect of playing his position can be addressed with off-season workouts. "But mentally," he added, "it can be quite a grind because every week you are putting all your energy and emotion and focus into one opponent. Then you play the game, and it's out the door. "What you did last week means nothing for what you are doing this week."'

December 12, 2001

Bills haven't ruled out Johnson's return [3:11 PM]AP reports:
'Citing the most recent medical report on Johnson's broken collarbone, coach Gregg Williams held out hope on Wednesday that the quarterback could be ready to return to practice within two weeks. Whether that means he'll be healthy enough to play in time for the Bills' season finale, Jan. 6 at Miami, Williams wasn't sure.'

Buffalo Bills Wallpaper by 'Moose' [1:14 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Eric Moulds is the star of the Bills monthly wallpaper by TBD allumni Gina Mustico. NOTE: Snow is artifical since Buffalo has not had snow yet.

Tasty turnovers [12:51 PM]Quincy Patriot Ledger reports:
'Exhibit 'A' in that argument is the New England Patriots, whose current three-game winning streak has been fueled, to a large extent, by a combined plus-6 turnover ratio in that span.'

Freebie at the stadium this weekend [12:32 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
The Bills Experience, which takes place in the Fieldhouse prior to every Bills home game, will be free to attend prior to this Sunday's game vs. the New England Patriots. A special appearance by 2001 Wall of Fame honoree Fred Smerlas, who will be available for autographs.
Also an appearance by Billy Buffalo dressed in his Santa attire. Fans can get their picture taken with Santa Billy from 10:00-11:00 AM and again from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM.

Tom Donahoe's Weekly Bills Update [11:47 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
"Nate's got a bright future, and we feel good with him on one side and Antoine on the other side, and the way that Chris Watson has stepped up the last few weeks and improved his play, we feel good about that position overall on our team."

[PICTURES] Buffalo Bills Shop with a Jock [11:39 AM]TBD reports:
Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo Salvation Army present Shop With A Jock. An event where kids from the community have a chance to shop with a Bills player for Christmas presents for their family.

Spoon's first pickoff one to remember [8:58 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'The Buffalo Bills' rookie linebacker didn't have any interceptions in high school (he played fullback and tight end) or in college at North Carolina, so when he finally got his first, fear took over.'

Ex-Bill Henry Jones is not coming back [7:12 AM]Business First of Buffalo reports:
'Former Buffalo Bills defensive back Henry Jones has sold his house on Southwick Drive in Orchard Park. According to public records, Jones received $150,000 for the house. The deal closed on Nov. 16. Jones was cut just before the season after a decade with the team.'

Fans stay home as Bills win just second game [7:10 AM]Business First of Buffalo reports:
'The Buffalo Bills won just their second game of the National Football League season Sunday, 25-24 over the Carolina Panthers. It was also their first at Ralph Wilson Stadium since Nov. 12, 2000, though not many were there to see it. The Bills face the prospects of playing before a similarly small crowd in the home finale Sunday, Dec. 16 against the New England Patriots.'

Centers' shoes and gloves go to Hall of Fame [5:49 AM]D and C reports:
'The shoes and gloves worn by Bills fullback Larry Centers when he became the all-time leader in receiving yards by a running back have gone to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.'

Finally, a line worth repeating [5:46 AM]Boston Globe reports:
'Before we had reason to position the ''P'' word in even the same paragraph with the Patriots, many New Englanders were using other, not-so-nice ''P'' words to describe the team's defense.'